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Spirit 360 / Spiorad 360 Project

My Spirit 360 project explores the Clava Cairns, a 4000 year old burial site near Inverness. I was inspired by a story written by Luna Sikkens, 'The Trees of the Clava Cairns' and by onging visits to the site during autumn and winter 2021-2022. 


The idea that ‘when you are left alone to listen, the earth speaks and her memories are truly real once more’ has taken on even more significance in recent times. Many people have had to assess what is most important to them, drawing strength from the natural world and places where we can ‘start to feel alive’ again. Although it is an ancient burial ground, the Clava Cairns is very much a living site. It’s a place that I keep coming back to as a source of peace, resilience and inspiration.  The glen and trees that surround it, the stones, birds, animals and insects you encounter, the movement of the seasons that were so important to our ancestors, are powerful roots we can tap into.


Clava is a place rich in natural history, folklore and archaeology that awakens your senses and like many of our ancient sites, a place that we will never completely unravel. The cairns and their attendant trees retain their mystery and trigger the imagination.

Click the buttons beneath each image below to see a selection of preliminary studies and final illustrations.

Spirit:360 is supported by Highland Place Partnership, by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Place Partnership Programme, and is administered by High Life Highland, as part of the Spirit of the Highlands project


Tha Spiorad:360 a’ faighinn taic bho Chom-pàirteachas Àite na Gàidhealtachd, bhon Chrannchur Nàiseanta tro Phrògram Com-pàirteachas Àite Alba Chruthachail, agus tha e air a rianachadh le High Life na Gàidhealtachd, mar phàirt de phròiseact Spiorad na Gàidhealtachd.

Spirit 360 Project: Collections
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